Scenic Antelope Island perfect for early-bird hikers

ANTELOPE ISLAND STATE PARK — Spring is one of the best times to hike here, with cooler temperatures and a better chance to see wildlife.

While many higher mountain trails are still snowed-in during April, Antelope Island offers excellent hiking opportunities for early birds.

(However, you can't always hike Antelope's tallest point, Frary Peak, during the spring, because it may be closed for lambing season. Check with rangers before heading to Antelope Island, if the peak is your intended goal.)

Besides Frary Peak and the not-to-be-missed half-mile family-friendly hike to the top of Buffalo Point, the other must-do hike on the island is a 6-mile, one-way trek to the Elephant Head overlook.

This trail doesn't have a great deal of elevation change — about 200 feet — as it travels openly in buffalo territory and provides some great views of the west side of the island and the Great Salt Lake.

You'd better plan on spending most of the day on the island, because while the hike may only take half of your day, the rest of the island's highlights are also worth visiting.

Trail rating: two stars.

Scenic rating: three stars.

Distance: 4.5 miles to the Split Rock Bay overlook and another 1.5 miles to the Elephant Head overlook. Twelve miles round-trip. An extra 1.5 miles means you could take the full White Rock Bay loop for variety on the way back. It is 15 miles round-trip if you also hike to Split Rock Bay.

Elevation gain: Abut 200 feet

Difficulty: Moderate.

Time required: 3-4 hours for fast hikers and 4-6 hours for average people.

Directions to reach the trailhead: Take I-15 Exit 332 (Layton-Syracuse) and head west through Syracuse about seven miles to the causeway. The causeway is 7.2 miles long. Antelope Island State Park is open May to September, 7 a.m. to dusk.

Take the south spur on the island about two miles to the White Rock. Travel about one-half mile southeast to the unpaved parking lot in White Rock Bay where the road ends. Sign the register and cross through the gate into Buffalo territory.